Those tin boxes with film rolls coiled inside them are carriers of dreams, desires and all the christened and unchristened human emotions. Nevertheless, the film rolls could sometimes tell better tales than the one imprinted on them, tales that those who experienced would not like to remember. One such box abandoned in the attic of an alcoholic and grey-haired Shakespearean professor has such a secret in it. A secret which destroyed the life of a young man and could destroy it further once it is opened. And he has to stop it from being opened, or to be precise, reloaded.
Thus goes the plot of Paavada, actor Prithviraj's latest and director Marthanadan's third flick. The film produced by veteran actor Maniyan Pilla Raju belongs to the era when plot mattered much. Thus the film has a strong storyline, characters and a narrative which is filled with emotions of all sorts and a pinch of surprise.
The film begins with a declaration that it happened before all the bars in Kerala were locked up and the famous Faiz Ahmed Faiz poem on drinks and tears. That looks imperative as alcohol and the dimly lit temples of the devils' paradise play a major role in the film. The first half spends a good amount of time establishing the characters of Prof. Babu Joseph aka Paavada Babu (Anoop Menon) and Joy aka Pambu Joy (Prithviraj) -- two drunkards. While Babu, the man who rues a lost life of hues holds the philosophy that a "drunkard's life is like an empty bottle which could be filled either with water or venom or used to kill one", Joy knows no such truths. He only knows that the son of a man who succumbed to a 'rotten liver' owing to excessive drinking has no other option than to become drunkard. What's the best place for the duo to come across. A bar? No a deaddiction centre. What happens between them makes the rest of the story which is told with the help of a strong script.
As said much of the narrative happens in the second half which is compelling and religiously follows the ever successful formula of 'from crisis to escalated crisis to failure to the final solution'. In its process of evolving into a solution from a problem, the film turns out a convincing court drama too.
Throughout the film, director Marthandan holds a tight grip though he could have asked his editor to go for a bit of trimming in the first half. Paavada; (meaning a skirt in Malayalam) the film with a curious title which should have appeared on Kerala's walls in the early 2000s where the screens were ruled by the likes of Shakeela, Maria and Reshma, is essentially a script-based movie that deals with the problems of the common man. It hails human relationships and appeals to youngsters and families alike. And the credit goes to the writer, Bipin Chandran. Dialogue writer in Bipin strikes once again in Paavada, especially when it nears the climax evoking applause from fans.
Prithviraj, the actor once again shows his brilliance in the choice of character with Pambu Joy, though he seems to be far better when Joy is sober. Anoop Menon doesn't cross the limits as Babu, an act which he is often accused of. Murali Gopi, Asha Sharath (Yes. She is there and can't tell much about the character), Maniyan Pilla Raju as the lawyer and long-time friend of Babu, Nedumudi Venu as the old guard of Babu's house and consciousness, Miya as the poor wife and Sharafudheen as the sidekick of Joy all add to the flow of the narrative. Chemban Vinod appears as a priest with a shot of sedative in his hands and with a pack of goon-like aides. Nedumudi appears drunk in just one scene and it could have well been a lesson for the others who donned alcoholic characters in the film.
While the fast numbers by Abi Tom Cyriac, are already on hit charts, supplementing the narrative, the background score by Gopi Sunder looses track often in the first half.
And when you think it's all over and time to leave, there comes a real surprise. Go grab it.
Rating: 3/5